Ever since the Delonese ice-planet arrived eleven years ago, Sofi’s dreams have been vivid. Alien. In a system where Earth’s corporations rule in place of governments and the humanoid race orbiting the moon are allies, her only constant has been her younger brother, Shilo. As an online gamer, Sofi battles behind the scenes of Earth’s Fantasy Fighting arena where Shilo is forced to compete in a mix of real and virtual blood sport. But when a bomb takes out a quarter of the arena, Sofi’s the only one who believes Shilo survived. She has dreams of him. And she’s convinced he’s been taken to the ice-planet.
Except no one but ambassadors are allowed there.
For Miguel, Earth’s charming young playboy, the games are of a different sort. As Ambassador to the Delonese, his career has been built on trading secrets and seduction. Until the Fantasy Fight’s bomb goes off. Now the tables have turned and he’s a target for blackmail. The game is simple: Help the blackmailers, or lose more than anyone can fathom, or Earth can afford.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

The Evaporation of Sofi Snow by Mary Weber is a fascinating YA book. The race to find answers is thrilling. A young girl loses her brother and a young man is worried he lost her, Sofi. Sofi isn’t sure if her brother is really gone or not. Miguel may know something…only now, he’s being blackmailed. Can an online gamer and an Abassador find a way to beat the odds?

Sofi is clever. She’s a charcater that I can easily connect to. Her loss and grief over her brother pulled me closer to her. When she thinks her brother may not be gone likeeveryone states…she goes searching for the truth. Her determination and bravery make this a worthy adventure. Then there’s Miguel. He is in a difficult position. Not sure of who Sofi really is but is pulled to her by a connection, soon leads him into danger. Video games and aliens are taken to a whole level in this stunning tale. Intrigue, suspense, and a deadly plot will keep readers sucked into The Evaporation of Sofi Snow. Mary Weber’s talent can be seen through her words. Every page absorbed me into the conflict…overall, I highly recommend this novel.

The harrowing, but triumphant story of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, leader of the Liberian women’s movement, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the first democratically elected female president in African history.

When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won the 2005 Liberian presidential election, she demolished a barrier few thought possible, obliterating centuries of patriarchal rule to become the first female elected head of state in Africa’s history. Madame President is the inspiring, often heartbreaking story of Sirleaf’s evolution from an ordinary Liberian mother of four boys to international banking executive, from a victim of domestic violence to a political icon, from a post-war president to a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author Helene Cooper deftly weaves Sirleaf’s personal story into the larger narrative of the coming of age of Liberian women. The highs and lows of Sirleaf’s life are filled with indelible images; from imprisonment in a jail cell for standing up to Liberia’s military government to addressing the United States Congress, from reeling under the onslaught of the Ebola pandemic to signing a deal with Hillary Clinton when she was still Secretary of State that enshrined American support for Liberia’s future.
Sirleaf’s personality shines throughout this riveting biography. Ultimately, Madame President is the story of Liberia’s greatest daughter, and the universal lessons we can all learn from this “Oracle” of African women.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Madame President by Helene Cooper is an inspiring read. Women everywhere will be awed at the work done by one woman, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She has gone beyond any other woman of her time in a country that mistreated women as objects. Here, I got to follow the brave and clever woman as she rose from just a mother to a president of a nation. Going to prison, suffering like every other woman has done…,yet she managed to rise dispite the hardships that fell upon her. I was amazed. She kept on going even when it might have meant the end for her. Writer, Helene Cooper, has brought Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s life alive on these pages for All to see. Just when I thought I have seen, heard, and know it all…this book brought out more than just a woman struggling to rise among men of her country. It’s a story of survival, courage, determination as well as breaking barriers. Overall, I recommend this nonfiction piece on one of the most compelling stories of a woman to readers everywhere.

A beloved American corporation with an explosive secret. A disgraced former journalist looking for redemption. A corporate executive with nothing left to lose.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, a garment factory burns to the ground, claiming the lives of hundreds of workers, mostly young women. Amid the rubble, a bystander captures a heart-stopping photograph—a teenage girl lying in the dirt, her body broken by a multi-story fall, and over her mouth a mask of fabric bearing the label of one of America’s largest retailers, Presto Omnishops Corporation.

Eight thousand miles away, at Presto’s headquarters in Virginia, Cameron Alexander, the company’s long-time general counsel, watches the media coverage of the fire in horror, wondering if the damage can be contained. When the photo goes viral, fanning the flames of a decades old controversy about sweatshops, labor rights, and the ethics of globalization, he launches an investigation into the disaster that will reach farther than he could ever imagine—and threaten everything he has left in the world.

A year later, in Washington, D.C., Joshua Griswold, a disgraced former journalist from the Washington Post, receives an anonymous summons from a corporate whistleblower who offers him confidential information about Presto and the fire. For Griswold, the challenge of exposing Presto’s culpability is irresistible, as is the chance, however slight, at redemption. Deploying his old journalistic skills, he builds a historic case against Presto, setting the stage for a war in the courtroom and in the media that Griswold is determined to win—both to salvage his reputation and to provoke a revolution of conscience in Presto’s boardroom that could transform the fashion industry across the globe.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

AHarvestofThorns by Corban Addison is an amazing book. It captures the reality and fear of corruption. From CEOs to the slave trade, readers will get the experience as thought they were actually there or a part of it. The frightening discovery leads a strong willed battle to a company stationed back in the U.S. Secrets leaks. An unraveling of events will shine light to the darkness that is very much a reality in our own world. Corporations think they rule the world. But they can only get away with it for so long…and that’s when all goes to light. Court room battles, an investigation, and one determined journalist make this an interesting read. I was hooked. Many popular yet ugly topics come alive within the pages. Readers will dig through them as the content is released. Absolutely stunning…Corban Addison has captured the dark side of live and world we live within and turned it into one of the most heated moments in the fictional world. The ending was just as epic as the beginning. Fast-paced, intriguing, and a great story. Overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.

When a Thai girl overdoses smuggling drugs, the trail points to Danillo, the one criminal MMA-trained public prosecutor Jana Berzelius most wants to destroy. Eager to erase any evidence of her sordid childhood, Berzelius must secretly hunt down this deadly nemesis with whom she shares a horrific past.

Meanwhile, the police are zeroing in on the elusive head of the long-entrenched Swedish narcotics trade, who goes by the name The Old Man. No one has ever encountered this diabolical mastermind in person; he is like a shadow, but a shadow who commands extreme respect. Who is this overarching drug lord? Berzelius craves to know his identity, even as she clandestinely tracks Danillo, who has threatened to out her for who she really is. She knows she must kill him first, before he can reveal her secrets. If she fails, she will lose everything.

As she prepares for the fight of her life, Berzelius discovers an even more explosive and insidious betrayal—one that entangles her inextricably in the whole sordid network of crime.

The second in a trilogy of fast-paced, high-stakes thrillers by the international bestselling author Emelie Schepp, Marked for Revenge involves the international drug trade and child trafficking and features the brilliant, enigmatic prosecutor Jana Berzelius, whose own dark past has, until recently, been hidden even from herself.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Marked for Revenge by Emelie Schepp is the second installment to one of the best and darkest thrillers ever. Immediately, I was drawn into the web of darkness. One that definitely surrounds the main character, Jana Berzelius. A prosecutor who goes to danger’s most i inviting places to get what she needs. Answers. Things like secrets, betrayals, and suspense have their way of always making it into Emelie Schepp’s novels. I felt compelled to know more. Even if that meant following, Jana Berzelius, to her death.

The characterization is amazing. I got more of an insider’s scoop with this book. More information on the main character’s life, is unveiled. Emelie Schepp has created another compelling read. She makes organized crime like child trafficking into one of the most horrendous nightmares yet. While, I wish these crimes were not being committed at all, the reality and fear of what happens is perfectly caught within this novel. The plot is fast-paced, complex, and bone chilling. Captivating, frightening, and engaging…Marked for Revenge is definitely a recommended read for all.

From the author of the New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places comes a heart-wrenching story about what it means to see someone—and love someone—for who they truly are.
Everyone thinks they know Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed “America’s Fattest Teen.” But no one’s taken the time to look past her weight to get to know who she really is. Following her mom’s death, she’s been picking up the pieces in the privacy of her home, dealing with her heartbroken father and her own grief. Now, Libby’s ready: for high school, for new friends, for love, and for EVERY POSSIBILITY LIFE HAS TO OFFER. In that moment, I know the part I want to play here at MVB High. I want to be the girl who can do anything.

Everyone thinks they know Jack Masselin, too. Yes, he’s got swagger, but he’s also mastered the impossible art of giving people what they want, of fitting in. What no one knows is that Jack has a newly acquired secret: he can’t recognize faces. Even his own brothers are strangers to him. He’s the guy who can re-engineer and rebuild anything in new and bad-ass ways, but he can’t understand what’s going on with the inner workings of his brain. So he tells himself to play it cool: Be charming. Be hilarious. Don’t get too close to anyone.
Until he meets Libby. When the two get tangled up in a cruel high school game—which lands them in group counseling and community service—Libby and Jack are both pissed, and then surprised. Because the more time they spend together, the less alone they feel. . . . Because sometimes when you meet someone, it changes the world, theirs and yours.
Jennifer Niven delivers another poignant, exhilarating love story about finding that person who sees you for who you are—and seeing them right back.Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven is one brilliant masterpiece. Her story is one that should be read by all. The meanings of true love, acceptance, and finding strength in oneself are found. The tale features two high school students. Each with their own set of issues. High school is tough enough without all the drama and issues that a person is dealt with in life. Obesity is one popular topic discussed inside this read. Then, there’s a new one I haven’t heard of before…the way Jennifer Niven wove them into her book was wonderful. I got to see the bad and good sides to each character. One of the characters, Jack, has a lot going at his home. A dad who cheats and there’s his memory of remembering who is who. Imagine not remembering who was your friend versus your enemy…

Holding Up the Universe was realistic in every way. It wasn’t a happy little fairy tale. Neither character was perfect. That in itself, made this book stand out to me. Raw, believable, and engaging. Then, there’s the female leading character, Libby. The fattest girl her age. Self-image is scary. Especially, when a girl is way over the normal weight. Getting down to normal weight would be the toughest obstacle…yet Libby doesn’t let that stop her from living. I wanted to root for both Jack and Libby. They inspired me in ways. Life’s hard, so push back harder. They both accept one another and each other. That was one of the highlights. Acceptance. Humans need that as much as they need to socialize. Overall, I really enjoyed reading Jennifer Niven’s work. I highly recommend it to others.

Nicole Cassidy is a witch descended from the Greek gods… but she doesn’t know it until she moves to a new town and discovers a dangerous world of magic and monsters that she never knew existed.
When the Olympian Comet shoots through the sky for the first time in three thousand years, Nicole and four others — including mysterious bad-boy Blake — are gifted with elemental powers. But the comet has another effect — it opens the portal to another dimension that has imprisoned the Titans for centuries. After an ancient monster escapes, it’s up to Nicole and the others to follow a cryptic prophecy in time to save the town… and possibly the world.Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Elementals: TheProphecyoftheShadows by Michelle Madow is phenomenal. Once I started reading, I was immediately drawn into the novel. Magic, witches, power, and a mystery. It is similar to Harry Potter in tiny ways. But not by much…it’s interesting. Yes, I have read about witches using the elements as their power source. However, this puts a new perspective on the topic. Power that should only be mentally done…turns into much more. Physical abilities to use elements makes the characters quite more frightening. Imagine harnessing power, like electricity in your mind..then having it released into the open. Bad things can happen. Like accidentally cutting oneself or finding that one has a healing power.

Michell Madow has created a novel, where the main character doesn’t know she’s a witch. Hence, a similarity to Harry Potter. Until brought up in the world of magic neither knew about themselves. Or the powers they possess. Inside Elementals: The Prophecy of the Shadow, I got to meet a group of teen witches/wizards. This group of teens come from high pure families to a mixture of half-witch and half-human. Some members like one girl, can make for the deadliest enemy ever. A girl who doesn’t mind using magic in bad ways on those she considers in her way. Then, there’s another young girl. Kate is smart and quiet. She’s the good girl. I liked her instantly. Then another teen. Chris is a bit cook you but seems cool. Last but not least, there’s a guy that makes Nicole feel in love. But he’s taken…and it’s complicated. Soon, they all find out about a prophecy that seems to involve them and their new powers. They search for clues and go on a journey of a lifetime. I found myself turning the pages in a haste to read it all. I was intrigued, fascinated, and hooked. Romance, suspense, and danger. Overall, I highly recommend this YA novel to all.

Synopsis:
Kiera Connelly leads a quiet life, and that’s just how she likes it. She’s built a name as a graphic designer and meets up with her friends online, all from the comfort of her living room couch. But when a rare outing turns disastrous, Kiera finds herself up close and way too personal with an unbelievably hot real-life hero.

Zach Ashley doesn’t see himself as a hero. He’s just a regular guy who gets to help people every day as an EMT. But when he’s called to a scene and has to treat his most gorgeous patient ever, he finds himself mixing work with pleasure. He never hesitates to put his life on the line…but will he ever risk his heart?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Completely Yours by Erin Nicholas is a sweet romance that readers will love. Her characters are so believable that I can’t believe it’s fiction! Both character wou are never have met if it wasn’t for the building that collapsed. Many were injured and luckily neither main character yet was hurt. One is a sexy EMT the other a gorgeous graphic designer. Both have the hots for each other and only time will tell if they go from this super sweet hot moment to a happily ever after…life is complicated. And their meeting just but their worlds upside down and inside out…the emotional war each character has is stunning. I felt their frustrations and feelings as if I were feeling them myself. Erin Nicholas has a way with words that leads readers like myself further into her delightful world of fiction. Completely Yours makes absolute sense when reading the novel. Each character in a way becomes the other’s complete half. I loved the brewing romance and the fire of spdesire each time the characters were near each other. Loved it. Overall, I highly recommend this contemporary romance read to all.

‘Dead is Dead’ is a collection of twenty compelling stories which focus on the complexity of being human. All of the stories have already met with success: broadcast, appearing in magazines or doing well in international competitions.

The title story, Dead is Dead, is set in colonial Africa and is told from the point of view of a little girl. Her father’s gun goes missing and so does one of the servants. Events unfold and end in tragedy, and in the little girl coming to a new understanding.

In ‘This is not Miranda’s story’ a woman observes her neighbour’s wife becoming a mother and, at the same time, sliding into madness. Here’s a small section from it: ‘Tim came round the next Saturday. He brought the big pram with the baby at one end and Hayden at the other. When I asked how Miranda was, he said, “She’s convinced that this little one is a daughter, although it’s obvious he’s not. She calls him Eve.”’

‘The Sleeping Handsome’ retells the story of ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ but with a male sleeper and set in modern times.

‘My Beautiful Dad’ is written from the point of view of the son of a man who is becoming a woman. Finally the boy meets the woman his father has become: ‘I push open the door to the café and there is ‘Rosalie; quite beautiful, long blonde hair, long slender legs elegantly crossed. She wears earrings that hang almost to her shoulders, silver bangles on each smooth arm, a short skirt, high-heeled shoes, a lacy blouse buttoned up to her cleavage, the hint of breasts. She holds her hand there, the long fingers fiddling with the top button, wanting to undo it .’

Matilda is dealing with writing a philosophical essay on the subject of free will and determinism, it is also her birthday and her mother, with whom she does not get on, is coming to stay, next door there is building work going on and bones are discovered. These are the themes for ‘Matilda, the Determined Woman’.

‘Polly’s Day’ is about the awfulness of war for the families whose men have gone to fight. It is set during the Second World War with flashbacks to the first. Here’s a section from one of those flashbacks: ‘Mum was in the kitchen. She was crying like she had been on the way to school, only worse. Gran looked up as Polly came in; her eyes were red and her face all wobbly. But it was Uncle Artie who said it, ‘Your dad’s dead. Killed. In action.’

‘When Mum came in from the bedroom, she had pink cream on her face but you could still see the other colours underneath, especially just below one eyebrow where there was a rim of black coming through. Her lips looked sore, too, swollen and bitten and when she yawned, it was almost as if she was trying not to cry. She walked through to the kitchen end of the living room.’ This is the opening to ‘One of Those Days’ a horrific story about a dysfunctional family, a battered wife and mistreated children.

In ‘Dead Heading the Roses’ the narrator is dealing with an unwanted pregnancy and the request from her neighbour’s son, who has become a paraplegic, for her to help him die. It starts like this: ‘Three years ago, Dylan, who lives next door, slid off the roof. The fall didn’t kill him but now he is unable to walk or talk. He communicates by blinking. One for no, two for yes, several when the right questions aren’t being asked.’

And there are plenty more stories, all gripping, all beautifully written and insightful, all of which will leave readers wanting more.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Dead is Dead and Other Stories by Jane Seaford is a brilliant collection of stories. Each story has its own point of view of major issues. Issues readers know and can relate to…I found myself exploring the human nature. Raw, realistic, and complex. Relationships within members of our own family or outside of it..can be messy. Confusion, emotions tugging at war, and the moments that readers will never forget. I don’t know how the writer, Jane Seaford did it, but she captured life in a nutshell on every page of her stories. I was hooked, captivated, and stunned. Her writing style is clear, easy to follow, and powerful. The messages are deep, thought provoking, and will leave readers wondering what next. Dead is Dead and Other Stories is a fascinating anthology of fiction that all must read. Once, I began reading these, there was no stopping…overall, I recommend it to readers everywhere.

Be it a little scruff or a full length beard, there’s nothing more attractive than a man with a well-groomed face. Masculine. Powerful. Sexy. Devoted. Lose yourself in this tantalizing collection of original short stories by your favorite romance authors in support of a great cause. Hipster CEO, bartender, best friend, baseball player—just to name a few—these men all have one thing in common: they’re bearded for your pleasure and deliver one hell of a happy ever after.

Because Beards is one of the most packed anthologies I have ever read. This incredible collection featured stories by my favorite writers. Plus, with this book going towards a fundraiser, I was ecstatic to read it. I had to know what the writers have put together. Low and behold, I was blown away. There were so many talented writers besides the ones I already loved. I was super happy that I got this book. The writing styles were unique and a heady bunch when woven into one delicious read after another. I am a major fan of the romance genre. Here, I was presented with a unendless treasure’s worth of the hottest and best short tales. Each tale featuring a man with a beard. But the writers have gone on and beyond making me love this collection. It was a powerful and epic journey following the characters in each new piece. Every story presented had something new, exciting, and delicious to offer. My heart melted many times over as I flipped through the pages. Wow! There’s every kind of happy fantasy waiting readers inside…I couldn’t choose which writer did better because each story wrapped itself around my heart. They captured my attention quickly. The price of this magnificent anthology plus, it’s quality and the number of reads…is a definite must for all. I highly recommend it to readers worldwide. Because Beards is sexy, addictive, and highly engaging.

How far will a candidate go to become president? Erica Sparks—America’s top-rated cable news host—is about to find out.

Mike Ortiz is a dynamic war hero favored to win the White House. Standing by his side is his glamorous and adoring wife, Celeste. But something about this seemingly perfect couple troubles Erica. Is Celeste really who she seems? And most importantly, what really happened in that squalid Al-Qaeda prison where Mike Ortiz spent nine months?

But more than the nation’s future is at stake. Erica’s relentless search for the truth puts the life of her preteen daughter Jenny in danger, even as Erica’s own dark past threatens to overtake her.

In her latest Newsmakers thriller, NewYork Times bestselling author and Fox News legal analyst Lis Wiehl weaves a taut and chilling story. The Candidate is packed with political intrigue and media manipulation as the lust for power turns deadly indeed.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Candidate by Lis Wiehl is the latest new novel in the Newsmakers series. Lis Wiehl couldn’t have planned her novel better… in time when the presidential campaigns are happening. No one trusts the government. Exactly what one would do to become the next president is a dark thought. With the technology of today and money made available, anything can happen. My thoughts were running back and forth like crazy. The suspense killing me. I had to read this new novel. Then, take the interesting yet peculiar couple that is trying to win seats in the White House. Both persons are a mystery. Where their intentions really lay is a question for Erica Sparks to solve. But with any kind of digging like this can bring a danger Erica never wanted. The danger that could come after, the one she loves the most…her daughter. The Candidate is a political thriller that will lure all readers in like a magnet. I was captivated, intrigued, and hooked. Lis Wiehl’s writing is one that entertains and drags readers deep into her worlds of fiction. Killings, witnessing, and an investigation that sent my heart racing. Family life is complicated but as much as Erica Sparks. She is the main character that proves to be a strong heroine. Overall, I recommend this new read to readers everywhere.

THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLEREvelyn Talbot knows that a psychopath can look perfectly normal. She was only sixteen when her own boyfriend Jasper imprisoned and tortured her―and left her for dead. Now an eminent psychiatrist who specializes in the criminal mind, Evelyn is the force behind Hanover House, a maximum-security facility located in a small Alaskan town. Her job puts her at odds with Sergeant Amarok, who is convinced that Hanover is a threat to his community…even as his attraction to beautiful Evelyn threatens to tear his world apart.

BEGINS WITH AN ESCAPE FROM HER PASTThen, just as the bitter Alaskan winter cuts both town and prison off from the outside world, the mutilated body of a local woman turns up. For Amarok, this is the final proof he needs: Hanover has to go. Evelyn, though, has reason to fear that the crime is a personal message to her―the first sign that the killer who haunts her dreams has found her again. . .and that the life she has so carefully rebuilt will never be the same…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Her Darkest Nightmare by Brenda Novak is brilliantly well-written. With this talented writer, I have yet to see a poorly written and undeveloped book. Each of her novels, is better than the one before it. It is amazing what Brenda Novak conjures in each tale. This latest novel is a romantic suspense read that will have readers hooked from beginning to end. The fear is overwhelming. I could feel the raw tensions caused by both they work that the main character does and the romance that stirs between her and the police officer. The attraction is mutual. However, the issue lies with the female doctor who can’t forget the past and embrace her life. Or embraced what her life could be like if she would just let go of her nightmare.

Brenda Novak introduced us readers to a prison where a bunch of doctors wanted to analyze the psychopaths that kill and torture others. They hoped that this facility will give them the research they need to see what causes the killers to do what they do. Their goal was to find out what makes them kill and why in a false hope that they can save people. Monsters housed in one building that has top security. Yet one lady never made it to the facility to work on time…then there’s the sexy police officer who found a woman’s head all bashed in a way that no one could recognize her. He immediately laid the blame on the Hangover House aka prison full of psychopathic killers. But could the killer really be a loose prisoner or someone else that the doctor might know? The suspense as always left me hanging. I was eager to know who died and who the killer is, plus, I wanted to see what lied in the future for the two main characters. Then there’s the doctor who was tormented by her boyfriend. Raped and left for dead…yet somehow she made it through and worked her way to becoming a specialist that works in analyzing men aka killers like her boyfriend. Even though she spent years in therapy, she still can’t let go of the danger that’s bound her in like the prisoners around her. Intriguing, sexy, and phenomenal. Brenda Novak’s new novel, Her Darkest Nightmare, will have left her readers sweating in fear. Overall, I highly recommend this compelling read to all.

Keith bears scars—both physical and emotional—from his childhood, but he’s worked hard to overcome the past. After walking away from his mother and her controlling ways five years ago, he’s built a new life in LA. He’s also accumulated a fortune of his own. But as soon as he learns of his mother’s death, he returns to Fairham. He feels he owes it to his grandfather to put the family empire together again—and he’s determined to find his mother’s killer.

Problem is…coming home to Fairham puts him back in contact with Nancy Dellinger, the woman he hurt so badly when he left before. And digging that deep into his mother’s final days and hours entails a very real risk.

Because the person who killed her could be someone he loves…

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Secrets She Kept is the sequel to The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak. This story continues with a twist the characters didn’t see coming and one that will keep readers intrigued until the very last page. Suspenseful, engaging, and emotional. A journey unlike any other. Family can be so many things. Secrets, hurt, and damaged relationships are all woven beautifully, inside the tale.

The Secrets She Kept is about a controlling mother who ruled like a dictator is now found dead. Her housekeeper found her in a tub with light candles. This was definitely something the mother wouldn’t do especially with her schedule. The situation raises more questions than answers for her children. Once more readers will meet the troubled brother, Keith who believes his mother was killed not suicidal. Then there’s Maisey the sister who, like Keith think it’s more than what the police say it is. But if it is not what it looks than who could possibly be the murderer? Then there’s the other sister whom they found and now they have to live with their mother’s death. Just as things were looking up for all three siblings…life went and took the rug from under their feet. There’s danger, mystery, and romance for all to enjoy. Brenda Novak has once more brought another great masterpiece to her readers. I was thoroughly impressed with her writing style. Tragedy, love, and abuse. This is definitely a novel worthy of every reader’s attention. So many issues at hand were mentioned. They are brilliantly put together to create a compelling story. Overall, I highly recommend The Secrets She Kept by Brenda Novak. I absolutely love this writer’s tales. Never disappoints her readers.

When outspoken radio talk show host Philip Long is kidnapped and murdered, Detective Macy Greeley leaves her young son in the care of her mother and heads up to remote Walleye Junction, Montana to take charge of the investigation. It is initially believed that Long’s murder is the result of a controversial radio show he’s done on the rise of far-right militias in the state. Within days, the two kidnappers are found dead following a massive heroin overdose, and the authorities are hopeful the investigation is finished. But there are too many discrepancies for Macy to settle for obvious answers. The kidnapper’s bodies have been moved, their son is on the run and a series of anonymous emails point investigators toward the murky world of prescription painkiller abuse. Macy soon finds herself immersed in small town intrigues as she races to find who’s really responsible for Philip Long’s murder.

Meanwhile, Philip Long’s daughter Emma is dealing with her own problems. It’s been twelve years since she left Walleye Junction after her best friend died from a drug overdose. Emma finds that little in Walleye Junction has changed in her absence. She is also becoming increasingly uneasy as the familiar surroundings stir up memories that are best forgotten.

With Walleye Junction, a taut, propulsive mystery, Karin Salvalaggio will once again grip readers from the opening page to the stunning conclusion.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Walleye Junction by Karin Salvalaggio has everything that readers look forward to within a thrilling mystery. This is Karin’s third novel and it automatically plunges readers deep into the dark plot that has past events tied to the danger at hand. Murder, suspicion, and danger compel readers forward in the exciting tale. Fast-paced and well-written, Walleye Junction was the first novel I have read by the talented writer, Karin Salvalaggio.

Walleye Junction is a small town, where four murders take place. A controversial radio talk show man is found dead. Then two kidnappers are also found dead. A woman dies from being overdosed. What starts off to be something related to the talk show turns out to be much more deadly and more serious than authorities would like. Kidnapping, murder, and drugs. There is enough action to keep readers interested from the beginning to the end. Karin Salvalaggio creates an emotional journey that is easy to connect with on every level. Her characters’ stories within this one are quite impressive. Somehow they all connect and make for an explosive yet haunting read. As I read Walleye Junction, I was constantly on the edge of my chair wondering what happens next. The words created a shadow…where readers could feel and experience everything first hand yet not know what to expect. The dialogue is just as great as the non-dialogue parts. The characters’ personalities and dramas pop off the pages. The ending…left me hanging. I can’t wait to see what happens next in another masterpiece by Karin Salvalaggio. Overall, I highly recommend this crime fiction to readers everywhere.

Already a #1 international bestseller, this tautly written and gripping psychological thriller forces a police inspector to reluctantly return to her hometown in Basque Country—a place engulfed in mythology and superstition—to solve a series of eerie murders.

When the naked body of a teenage girl is found on a riverbank in Basque Country, Spain, homicide inspector Amaia Salazar must return to the hometown she always sought to escape. A dark secret from Amaia’s past plagues her with nightmares, and as her investigation deepens, the old pagan beliefs of the community threaten to derail her astute detective work. The lines between mythology and reality begin to blur, and Amaia must discover whether the crimes are the work of a ritualistic killer or of a mythical creature known as the Basajaun, the Invisible Guardian.

Torn between the rational procedures of her job and the local superstitions of a region shaped by the Spanish Inquisition, Amaia fights against the demons of her past in order to track down a killer on the run.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Invisible Guardian by Dolores Redondo is one riveting novel. It holds the power to transport readers deep into unknown territory where danger, murder, and mythology all come tumbling out…but are the growing numbers of deaths caused by a myth or a serial killer at large? The scenes are so vivid that, a chill escapes down my spine as I follow the female investigator. So many have died. The leading investigator has her own demons to go through and then dealing with this kind of crime only heightens the suspense. Family, work, and death, are all related somehow…finding the answers won’t be easy.

The title of this masterfully woven novel comes from the myth called The Invisible Guardian. The people that live where the body count rises…blame The Invisible Guardian for all the bloodshed. But anyone who works in law knows myths don’t kill people. It only creates and spreads fear. Dolores Redondo is an excellent writer. Her tale is very compelling and kept me guessing with every page. The story is about a community that finds itself in danger. Women’s bodies have been piling up…and no one knows who, how, or why. Soon, Amaia Salazar is asked to investigate te case. She’s the best investigator that they have and it’s up to her to figure everything out before it escalates even more out of control. The ending definitely glued me to the edge of my seat…as the shocking news that the marks on one woman’s body match that with others that have been dead way before the serial killer was born. The human teeth marks on the dead bodies may or may not match their serial killer. The lure of who killed all those other women is now a leading question that leaves readers hanging in a cloud of suspense. I cannot wait for the next novel by this writer. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers worldwide.

“Eo” latin for “go, walk, ride, sail, pass, travel” is N.J native Jennifer Renson’s second book of published poetry. Leave your world behind and go on a journey through time and place.

In “Eo”, we return to post-apocalyptic Georgia where we follow a father and his thoughts about his son while an odd radio transmission is broadcasted. Friends follow a circus, as another returns home to the ideal cottage, and a spectator watches a world of creatures from a window in the clouds. Readers enter the minds of several characters in their own worlds while exploring others. Smell the ocean air, absorb the sun and spend some quality time with the moon.

As a special surprise, the readers get to add their personal touch to the book. Stuck in traffic? Play a little tic-tac-toe. Traveling to somewhere new? Write it down and paste the pictures. Draw the constellations you feel from the plane window. Turn your daydreams into a poem of your own or two.

Whether you travel by plane, train, bus, car, boat, horse, bicycle or foot, you can carry, inspirational and delightful poetry with you. Paperback and lightweight, this poetry book is ideal for all of your travels. Even if you are simply taking some time to yourself, be sure to take Jennifer with you.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Eo by Jennifer Renson is a brilliant collection of well-written poems that automatically lured me deep into her words. Stunning how tiny black words on a page pop off the pages and becomes scenes filled with action, adventure, and emotion. When reading this collection of poetry, I can sense the deep inspiration coming off the pages and being absorbed by me with every flick of a page. Endless beauty, inspiration, and raw talent shine within this book. As a reader, I felt, myself drawn into other places. Every word felt like it was my own…that openness and raw form of writing by a poet is one that can’t be ignored. It beckons and calls me deeper into its heart. Jennifer Renson can take me anywhere and make me feel anything all with the magic of her words.If readers look closely they will recognize Walking Dead themes within the wonderful book. Eo is not just a book of poetry but packed with a lot of other surprises to keep readers like myself, busy reading. Overall, I highly recommend this title to readers everywhere.

With the Hayes virus sweeping across America, killing anyone it touches, maverick scientist Derek Lane knows he must find a cure…and fast. But with no obvious connections between victims and fears that the virus could be a weapon of terror, time is running out.

Amidst this global panic, Derek finds his own life at risk, too, when he is subjected to a spate of terrifying attacks by an unknown assailant. His only escape is to follow his leads to Africa, eradicate the virus, and outrun the danger at home. His exploration plummets him into the underworld of illegal science where he sees the disturbing signs of a kind of reverse evolution, which he seeks to expose alongside the source of the virus.

But Africa guards her secrets well, and his search hits a brick wall—until he meets Kate Rhodes, a woman struggling with the mysterious death of her best friend, Emily, a fellow scientist.

Kate immerses herself in Emily’s research into environmental toxins and corporate corruption—discoveries that gain new relevance when Derek realizes that Emily’s death might hold the key to unlocking a cure…but can they stop the virus in time?

The Darwin Sin is a thought-provoking techno-thriller about the conspiracy that triggered the uprising of an oppressed species, and its ensuing consequences to mankind. The novel’s compelling characters, scientific details, and social musings will stay with you long after the last page.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Darwin Sin by L.R. Hughes is a dynamite read. A medical thriller that captures its audience and reels them in with every page. With enough action, the Bourne Series fans would love this new thriller. Suspense hangs onto readers as the plot unfolds. Fast-paced and brilliantly well-written. I can see this becoming a big motion picture like The Andromeda Strain. Heart pounding, intense, and addictive for all. L.R. Hughes brings us a story of one man and one woman who are willing to take risks where a new deadly virus is concerned. Illegal science, technological advancements, and travel will gobble readers up inside Darwin Sin. I have never read a medical suspense tale that plunges you deep into its depths and set you out on a race that deadly and highly dangerous.

Inside Darwin Sin, readers are introduced immediately to a scientist by the name of Derek Lane. He is being taunted by someone…that doesn’t want him around anymore. The discovery a virus that shouldn’t exist but does…Derek is more than determined to stop it before its too late. Then there’s a woman whose friend dies of a mysterious death. A scientist dead, and another about to search for a cure along with the dead’s scientist’s friend, Kate. Together they have to figure out the answers or else all will be for nothing. L.R. Hughes is indeed a talented writer. His words bring, to life the chilling scenes and a conspiracy that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. I loved how realistic the scientific parts were inside this novel. It brings the reality of such a danger out of the fictional world and leaves reading wondering what will happen within our future. This read will leave readers sweaty, and fearful of what will become of the characters as their journey furthers with every word. Suspenseful, intriguing, and a must read for all. I highly recommend this riveting novel to all.

When ex-Navy SEAL Nick Foley travels to China to find purpose and escape the demons of his past, he instead stumbles into a conspiracy his Special Forces training never prepared him for. A mysterious and deadly outbreak ravages a remote area of western China, and Nick finds himself the lead suspect in a bioterrorism investigation being conducted by China’s elite Snow Leopard counter-terrorism unit.

To clear his name and avoid prosecution, he must team up with beautiful Chinese CDC microbiologist Dr. Dazhong “Dash” Chen to find who is really behind the attack. As their investigation proceeds, their budding friendship is tested by nationalistic loyalties and suspicion.

In a race against time, Nick and Dash must risk everything to stop a madman before he unleashes the world’s next super-weapon in Beijing.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Beijing Red by Alex Ryan is a reminder of one of my most favorite movies…the Bourne Series. It’s intense, fast-paced, and absolutely a riveting read. There’s enough excitement that kept my heart racing, my palms sweating, and the fear of another deadly disaster. Alex Ryan is indeed a superb writer whose words swept over me and washed me deep into this stunning one of a kind adventure. With the way our world’s technology and other foreign countries bio-technologies increase at an alarming rate…the fear of this realistic doom kept me awake all night long. Absolutely the most compelling read I have read in awhile.

Alex Ryan has masterfully created a plot that can one day actually happen to us if not already happening. The frightening realization is terrifying. I couldn’t put this novel down until I read it all. Inside Beijing Red, readers like myself will have met an ex-Navy Seal who like Matt Damon that played the leading role in Bourne Series…is found in a rather difficult situation where he is being hunted down for a rime he didn’t commit. A government conspiracy that leads Nick and China’s microbiologist, Dash, to figure it all out before the true criminal behind it all lets loose another deadly nightmare. A race against time, countries, and the government both Nick and Dash will have to use every source of power they have to defeat whoever is behind the bioterrorism. Readers like myself will get to travel to China and explore one of the most dangerous plots that exist…Beijing Red. Overall, I found this read to be thrilling, and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

From the nationally bestselling author of The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls comes a story of 1950s Texas socialites and the one irresistible, controversial woman at the bright, hot center of it all.

Joan Fortier is the epitome of Texas glamour and the center of the 1950s Houston social scene. Tall, blonde, beautiful, and strong, she dominates the room and the gossip columns. Every man who sees her seems to want her; every woman just wants to be her. But this is a highly ordered world of garden clubs and debutante balls. The money may flow as freely as the oil, but the freedom and power all belong to the men. What happens when a woman of indecorous appetites and desires like Joan wants more? What does it do to her best friend?

Devoted to Joan since childhood, Cece Buchanan is either her chaperone or her partner in crime, depending on whom you ask. But as Joan’s radical behavior escalates, Cece’s perspective shifts—forcing one provocative choice to appear the only one there is.

A thrilling glimpse into the sphere of the rich and beautiful at a memorable moment in history, The After Party unfurls a story of friendship as obsessive, euphoric, consuming, and complicated as any romance.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The After Party by Anton DiSclafani is a highly entertaining read that will take readers, into an unforgettable journey. A journey of that involves the wealth, beauty, and expectations of women. Anton DiSclafani’s brilliantly well-written novel is a historical read that will forever entice readers to its pages. Friendship is important…but where it may lead us is something that we must discover on our own. Not all friendships are good…

Inside The After Party, readers will meet a woman that makes all envious and needy. Glamour, parties, scandals…will enlighten readers as they race through the stunning plot. Cece is an intelligent yet beautiful woman. She is also the world’s greatest friend. Throughout the novel, she serves as friend, a guide, and a partner in crime to Joan. Joan needs to escape from her mother and Cece wonders if Joan can ever accomplish such a feat. This novel also gives readers an insight on how and what was expected of women during this time period. The 1950’s seems like so long ago until readers pick up this novel and begin reading it. Zap and the next moment your back in time…Anton DiSclafani’s masterpiece will leave readers feeling and experiencing everything that these two women go through…absolutely amazing. Exciting, complex, and the most compelling women’s historical fiction that I have ever read. I enjoyed reading The After Party. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

Working with the British Secret Service on an undercover mission, Maisie Dobbs is sent to Hitler’s Germany in this thrilling tale of danger and intrigue—the twelfth novel in Jacqueline Winspear’s New York Times bestselling “series that seems to get better with each entry” (Wall Street Journal).

It’s early 1938, and Maisie Dobbs is back in England. On a fine yet chilly morning, as she walks towards Fitzroy Square—a place of many memories—she is intercepted by Brian Huntley and Robert MacFarlane of the Secret Service. The German government has agreed to release a British subject from prison, but only if he is handed over to a family member. Because the man’s wife is bedridden and his daughter has been killed in an accident, the Secret Service wants Maisie—who bears a striking resemblance to the daughter—to retrieve the man from Dachau, on the outskirts of Munich.

The British government is not alone in its interest in Maisie’s travel plans. Her nemesis—the man she holds responsible for her husband’s death—has learned of her journey, and is also desperate for her help.

Traveling into the heart of Nazi Germany, Maisie encounters unexpected dangers—and finds herself questioning whether it’s time to return to the work she loved. But the Secret Service may have other ideas. . . .

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear caught my attention because it’s a war novel. Nazi Germany…is nothing but a place of nightmares, terror, and mass murder. The cries of those who were killed can still be heard anytime the topic comes up…My grandma worked on the Nazi war crimes so, reading about this time and horrific period brings me a little closer to those who suffered, torn apart, and murdered. I don’t know how any can forget or move on…it was way before my time yet my heart breaks for all those people especially the children who died…because one man hypnotized a country into mass murder, destruction, and lies.

Inside of Jacqueline Winspear’s novel, Journey to Munich, readers are taken deep into the frontlines of war and the danger becomes real. One woman lost her husband and needs a purpose to move on…she is soon swept up into a situation that will be hard to get out of…like that of pretending to be one man’s dead daughter to get him out alive…all because the government wants him for their purpose. Readers will be brought close to what it’s like being a prisoner of war and the ugliness of how governments can be during these confusing, sad, and frightening times. A woman who’s heart stays true to her one and only love…a woman who won’t back down until she’s satisfied. What she doesn’t know she makes up with tenacity. This novel is well-written and the characters are more than well-developed. It’s the most intriguing read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats waiting to find out what’s going to happen next. I have heard so much about this novel before reading it and I wasn’t disappointed. Jacqueline Winspear is a talented writer who can drag every reader into her historical fiction. I loved it. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

Where We Belong is an inspirational and most compelling story of its kind. Readers who fell in love with The Fault in Our Stars will fall in love with this incredible novel written by Eve Connell. Seventeen year-old Amelia Baide was the second fastest swimmer until the fatal accident in which she crashed into a lake and pulled out without a pulse. This has since caused the exceptional swimmer to stay away for swimming until strange events leave her at a swimming pool once more. Harry Jamieson has had his heart set out for only one woman, Amelia Baide. The night of the fatal crash they both shared a moment that only Harry remembers. Every single secret moment of it is still a vivid memory for him. But will Amelia eventually remember that moment too? And where then will that leave them both?

Where We Belong is a novel that will move the hearts and minds of many. I enjoyed reading this spectacular novel written by Eve Connell. Her talents have led her to creating this stunning and memorable masterpiece. I could not stop reading this novel, until I finished every chapter. The characters are realistic and believable beyond what words can say. Every reader will feel drawn deep into the story plot following Amelia and her journey through the anniversary of that one horrific event in her life. Every reader has to read this story. A beautifully told story with a powerful message that all readers won’t want to miss. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to everyone and give it a full five stars.